On Monday (11th March), the Supreme Court dismissed a petition from the Maharashtra government requesting a stay to the March 5 Bombay High Court ruling that acquitted G N Sai Baba,
New Delhi: Today (11th March): On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition from the Maharashtra government requesting a stay to the March 5 Bombay High Court ruling that acquitted G N Sai Baba, a former Delhi University professor, and others in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) concerning alleged Maoist connections.
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The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta asserted that there was no immediate need to overturn the acquittal, highlighting the thorough judgment provided by the Nagpur bench. It’s worth noting that all six individuals had been cleared of charges on two separate occasions by distinct benches.
According to the sources,
“The court found the acquittal of Saibaba and the co-accused to be “prima facie well reasoned.”
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba and five others, allowing their appeals against their 2017 conviction.
Justice Vinay G Joshi and Justice Valmiki S A Menezes, comprising the two-judge bench, ruled that the prosecution had failed to substantiate the case against the accused. They also declared the sanction under the UAPA to be null and void, asserting that the entire prosecution’s case had been compromised due to the invalid sanction for prosecuting the accused.
Background
The case involving G N Saibaba revolves around allegations of Maoist links, prompting legal action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Saibaba, a former Delhi University professor, faced accusations related to his purported involvement with Maoist activities.
After being convicted in 2017, Saibaba and other co-accused individuals appealed against their convictions. Their appeals were heard by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, which ultimately acquitted them on March 5. The High Court’s decision was significant, as it not only overturned the convictions but also declared the UAPA sanctions as null and void.
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However, the Maharashtra government sought to challenge this acquittal by filing an appeal with the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the High Court’s decision. Despite the government’s efforts, the Supreme Court rejected the plea, upholding the Bombay High Court’s acquittal of G N Saibaba and others.
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